Senators, find a solution to keep Dreamers here

Jo Anne Lyon and Anna Munoz

Congressional wrangling and presidential commentary over a “DACA solution” have dominated headlines. In the midst of the news circus, though, we pray that those who represent Hoosiers in Washington will keep their focus on the people directly impacted by the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. As Christians, our faith compels us to urge them to keep working for a solution consistent with biblical values.

As a denominational leader within The Wesleyan Church and a “Dreamer” who is a part of a Wesleyan congregation in Fishers, respectively, our first lens through which we view this issue is from the Bible. Scripture teaches us that each Dreamer — along with every other human person, regardless of country of origin or any other qualifier — is made in God’s image with inherent dignity as well as potential to create and contribute.

The Bible makes clear that God has a particular concern for two categories of people at the center of the current policy debate: immigrants are mentioned dozens of times in the Old Testament alongside orphans and widows as uniquely vulnerable individuals for whom God has a particular concern. And Jesus reserved some of his strongest words of condemnation for those who would cause children to stumble.

These biblical teachings are why evangelical churches have committed themselves to serving and welcoming immigrants. Immigrant Connection sites launched by Wesleyan Church congregations in Greensburg, Marion, Logansport and throughout the country have helped hundreds of individuals to apply for DACA. We have seen the hope the program offered — and we know the fear that many face as they are now poised to be at risk of deportation. We have joined other evangelical leaders from various evangelical denominations working through the Evangelical Immigration Table to urge Congress to quickly resolve this situation.

Beyond the biblical imperative, there are economic reasons to act. If DACA is allowed to end without a legislative solution, roughly 10,000 Dreamers in Indiana will lose their work authorization — and thus, if their employers follow the law, their jobs. According to the Dornsife Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration, our state’s gross domestic product will decline by more than half a billion dollars as these individuals are no longer able to lawfully work, pay their taxes, and — without income — consume in our economy.

I (Anna) will be among those directly affected. I came to the U.S. as a 2-year-old, brought by my parents who wanted to protect me from a dangerous situation in Mexico: people do not leave their home for no reason. Although I was born in Mexico and feel proud of my heritage, I consider Indiana my home.

After high school, I could not qualify for federal financial aid. However, thanks to the generous private support of the Lilly Endowment Scholarship, I have been able to attend DePauw University, where I am now a third-year neuroscience major.

Growing up, I did not have access to affordable health care. As a result, I attended free clinics and got the medical attention I needed from generous physicians. Their contributions to my well-being and that of countless others inspires my enduring desire to become a physician myself. After all that this state has invested in me, why would anyone now want to deny me the opportunity to contribute back?

We’re encouraged by polls that show that more than 80% of Americans want Congress to pass legislation that would allow Dreamers to stay lawfully in the U.S., keep their jobs, and continue to contribute. But time is of the essence: beginning in March — even if legislation were to pass today, given the several months that the federal government will require to process new work authorization requests — employers nationwide will be required to lay off roughly 1,000 Dreamers daily.

Our plea to Sens. Joe Donnelly and Todd Young and the entire Hoosier congressional delegation is that they come together to find a solution quickly. Congress has “deferred action” on this issue for too long — and lives are in the balance.

Jo Anne Lyon serves as the Global Ambassador for The Wesleyan Church, based in Fishers. Anna Munoz is a junior at DePauw University and a member at Waterline Church, also in Fishers.